Mass sickness outbreak closes York school

More than 50 pupils and staff at Copmanthorpe Primary School have been affected by the suspected norovirus outbreak so far.

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said:

We can confirm that Copmanthorpe Primary School will close at 12 noon today, reopening on Wednesday morning, following a suspected norovirus outbreak.

The decision to close the school was taken following consultation with the council’s public health team and Public Health England, and will enable a full deep clean of the school buildings and equipment to be carried out.

The school will not be making any further statement at this time.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus, also called the “winter vomiting bug”, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days.

Symtoms
The main symptoms of norovirus are:

feeling sick (nausea)

diarrhoea

being sick (vomiting)

You may also have:

a high temperature of 38C or above

a headache

aching arms and legs

The symptoms start suddenly within 1 to 2 days of being infected.

How to treat norovirus yourself
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. You should start to feel better in a day or two.